- AcademicsA+
- ValueA+
- DiversityA-
- CampusB-
- AthleticsB-
- Party SceneB+
- ProfessorsA
- LocationB-
- DormsB-
- Campus FoodC+
- Student LifeB+
- SafetyA-
Worcester Polytechnic Institute is ...
Private not-for-profit
Athletic Division
NCAA Division III (with football)
Athletic Conference
Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association
Address
100 Institute Road
Worcester, MA 01609
Website
From Worcester Polytechnic Institute
WPI is a research university distinguished by an innovative project-based curriculum. Renowned faculty work closely with students to convert classroom concepts to real-world impact.
Students call WPI's project-based, global approach "life-changing" in preparing them for the careers and lives they desire. At WPI, you will receive a high-caliber education fused with hands-on solving of issues in the world.
WPI's return on investment enables students to receive a strong starting salary, attend prestigious graduate schools, and to ascend to high-income brackets over their lives.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute Rankings
Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
49%
SAT Range
1310-1480
ACT Range
27-32
Application Fee
$65
SAT/ACT
Neither required nor recommended
High School GPA
Neither required nor recommended
Accepts Common App
Yes
Will You Get In?
Test Scores and GPA for Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Cost
Net Price
$39,011/ year
National
$15,403Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
Academics
Professors
A
Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
Student Faculty Ratio
13:1
Evening Degree Programs
No
- 83%
- of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.36 responses
- 68%
- of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.34 responses
- 29%
- of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.34 responses
Majors
Most Popular Majors
Mechanical Engineering
203 GraduatesElectrical and Electronics Engineering
103 GraduatesComputer Science
102 GraduatesChemical Engineering
84 GraduatesBioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
80 GraduatesRobotics and Automation Engineering
56 GraduatesCivil Engineering
51 GraduatesComputer Software Engineering
40 GraduatesBiology
39 GraduatesMathematics & Statistics
35 Graduates
Students
Full-Time Enrollment
4,158Undergrads
Undergrads Over 25
1%
Pell Grant
12%
Varsity Athletes
15%
Campus Life
Freshmen Live On-Campus
97%
Poll
- 61%
- of students say that Greek life is pretty big.54 responses
Poll
- 70%
- of students say varsity sporting events are attended, but not a huge part of campus life.61 responses
After College
Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
$77,600/ year
National
$33,028Graduation Rate
85%
National
48%Employed 2 Years After Graduation
95%
National
83%- 95%
- of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.22 responses
Worcester Polytechnic Institute Reviews
609 reviews
All Categories
WPI courses are structured in four terms; they are seven-week long, with a 10-day break between A and B Term, a month of Christmas vacation between B and C, and another 10-day break between C and D Term. While this structure makes courses very intense compared to other colleges, the fact that they last for only 7 weeks is refreshing and improves the students' quick-thinking ability. The courses are heavily based on practical work, research, public speaking, and travelling abroad. The class sizes vary, and while freshmen are often taught in big lecture rooms, they eventually develop stronger interactions with their professors, once their courses become more degree-specific. WPI is expensive, but it tends to be big on scholarships and financial aid, especially towards international students. Most freshmen live in dorms, which makes socializing easy, and then move to off-campus housing. Don't expect much from the Woo nightlife, but there are plenty of student parties throughout the year.
If you are looking to learn through multiple hands-on experiences that apply science and math to real life Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is the place for you. WPI has implemented a very unique approach to education that is very effective at preparing students for life as Engineers in the professional world. Requirements such as the Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP), and the Major Qualifying Project (MQP) are both excellent ways of letting students learn how to solve problems in an environment similar to their future career. Many other schools don’t offer these experiences, and it shows just how much WPI cares about preparing students for a successful life. As a minority it is hard to go by without noticing the obvious diversity problems. However, these problems seem non-existent because of the welcoming nature of the people on campus.
The program of studies is accommodating for being a polytechnic university. Professors are easily-approachable, as well as incredibly well informed individuals. Each professor wants to see you succeed and it is rare that a teacher is not willing to help a student excel in their courses. The connections available at the school are incredible too, including on-site interviews and career fairs that give students an easy way to apply for jobs with renown companies.